cheating dog.
Lori turned away
from them and addressed the guests again. “So get into your cars and head over.
Bridesmaids, go hold the limo for me, I’ll be right out. And save me some
champagne.” She grinned to disguise her heartbreak.
She’d
concentrate on being pissed off tonight. Tomorrow, she’d worry about the
broken-hearted part. But first, she wanted to talk to Brian’s parents.
With her
attention back on them, she eased through the crowd. Phyllis Petrin seized Lori’s
hands in a chilly grip and regarded at her through red-rimmed eyes. Apparently,
Lori hadn’t been the only one crying over this fiasco.
“I can’t tell
you how shocked and mortified we are over this, Lorelei. There was no
indication that Brian even considered this.”
Obviously,
Brian’s deeds had hurt more than just her. Had he even taken his parent’s
feelings into consideration? Indignation for their hurt joined her own outrage.
Lori nodded solemnly and squeezed the other woman’s hands. “I understand.
Please don’t think I’m angry with you. If I’d known…well, I guess that doesn’t
matter now, does it? If you two would like to come over to the inn you’re more
than welcome.” Maybe they could comfort each other. God only knew she could use
someone to lean on.
Phyllis shook
her head.
“No, I think,
under the circumstances, it would be better if we just go home.” Brian’s
father, Ernie, eyed the door longingly.
She certainly
couldn’t blame them for wanting to bow out. Lori hugged them both and bid them
goodbye.
The church was
nearly empty. Apparently, her guests had taken her advice. Will, however, stood
at the door, watching her closely, the frown still on his face. She couldn’t
tell if it was from concern or disapproval. She went to him.
“You going to
the inn?”
Will nodded,
his jaw tight. “I’ll be there. I just wanted to make sure you really want to do
this.”
“Party?
Absolutely. We paid a lot of money for the reception hall and I’ll be damned if
it goes to waste. I plan to get stinking drunk tonight and deal with this in
the morning. I’d let you ride with us in the limo…” Lori looked the best man up
and down. Will had been her best friend for years now, nearly as long as she’d
known Brian. He was a good-looking man, tall, with a solid build, short brown
hair with a cowlick and serious gray eyes. He wasn’t as lighthearted as Brian,
not the life of the party, but there was something women found sexy about the
strong silent type. “But I don’t think you’d stand a chance against those
girls.”
Finally, he
smiled, a small smile, but a smile nonetheless. “I’m glad you still have a
sense of humor.” Will leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
“I’ll see you
at the inn.”
With Will at
her side, Lori walked out of the deserted church. They parted company as she
climbed into the limo with her friends. Immediately her maid of honor pushed a
glass of champagne into her hand. Lori slumped back in the seat and sucked in a
deep breath, relieved to have the first step of this jilted bride fiasco out of
the way.
“Here’s to
being single,” Lori muttered and held up the tall flute of pale gold liquid.
Everyone clinked their glasses together in agreement.
“But let’s get
one thing straight. I do not want to discuss the status of my relationship with
Brian. Not one word. I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me tonight. I just
want to have a good time.” The women in the car nodded with approval, raising
their glasses again. The car was filled with the sound of clinking glass. “I’ve
been granted a reprieve from what could’ve been the biggest mistake of my life
and I want to savor that. Agreed?”
Her maid of
honor, Tamara, filled Lori’s glass again and wrapped her arm around Lori’s
shoulders. “We promise not to invoke the name ‘Brian’ at all tonight.”
They proceeded
to polish off the bottle of champagne before the ten minute ride to the inn
ended.
Lori turned away
from them and addressed the guests again. “So get into your cars and head over.
Bridesmaids, go hold the limo for me, I’ll be right out. And save me some
champagne.” She grinned to disguise her heartbreak.
She’d
concentrate on being pissed off tonight. Tomorrow, she’d worry about the
broken-hearted part. But first, she wanted to talk to Brian’s parents.
With her
attention back on them, she eased through the crowd. Phyllis Petrin seized Lori’s
hands in a chilly grip and regarded at her through red-rimmed eyes. Apparently,
Lori hadn’t been the only one crying over this fiasco.
“I can’t tell
you how shocked and mortified we are over this, Lorelei. There was no
indication that Brian even considered this.”
Obviously,
Brian’s deeds had hurt more than just her. Had he even taken his parent’s
feelings into consideration? Indignation for their hurt joined her own outrage.
Lori nodded solemnly and squeezed the other woman’s hands. “I understand.
Please don’t think I’m angry with you. If I’d known…well, I guess that doesn’t
matter now, does it? If you two would like to come over to the inn you’re more
than welcome.” Maybe they could comfort each other. God only knew she could use
someone to lean on.
Phyllis shook
her head.
“No, I think,
under the circumstances, it would be better if we just go home.” Brian’s
father, Ernie, eyed the door longingly.
She certainly
couldn’t blame them for wanting to bow out. Lori hugged them both and bid them
goodbye.
The church was
nearly empty. Apparently, her guests had taken her advice. Will, however, stood
at the door, watching her closely, the frown still on his face. She couldn’t
tell if it was from concern or disapproval. She went to him.
“You going to
the inn?”
Will nodded,
his jaw tight. “I’ll be there. I just wanted to make sure you really want to do
this.”
“Party?
Absolutely. We paid a lot of money for the reception hall and I’ll be damned if
it goes to waste. I plan to get stinking drunk tonight and deal with this in
the morning. I’d let you ride with us in the limo…” Lori looked the best man up
and down. Will had been her best friend for years now, nearly as long as she’d
known Brian. He was a good-looking man, tall, with a solid build, short brown
hair with a cowlick and serious gray eyes. He wasn’t as lighthearted as Brian,
not the life of the party, but there was something women found sexy about the
strong silent type. “But I don’t think you’d stand a chance against those
girls.”
Finally, he
smiled, a small smile, but a smile nonetheless. “I’m glad you still have a
sense of humor.” Will leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
“I’ll see you
at the inn.”
With Will at
her side, Lori walked out of the deserted church. They parted company as she
climbed into the limo with her friends. Immediately her maid of honor pushed a
glass of champagne into her hand. Lori slumped back in the seat and sucked in a
deep breath, relieved to have the first step of this jilted bride fiasco out of
the way.
“Here’s to
being single,” Lori muttered and held up the tall flute of pale gold liquid.
Everyone clinked their glasses together in agreement.
“But let’s get
one thing straight. I do not want to discuss the status of my relationship with
Brian. Not one word. I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me tonight. I just
want to have a good time.” The women in the car nodded with approval, raising
their glasses again. The car was filled with the sound of clinking glass. “I’ve
been granted a reprieve from what could’ve been the biggest mistake of my life
and I want to savor that. Agreed?”
Her maid of
honor, Tamara, filled Lori’s glass again and wrapped her arm around Lori’s
shoulders. “We promise not to invoke the name ‘Brian’ at all tonight.”
They proceeded
to polish off the bottle of champagne before the ten minute ride to the inn
ended.
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